Land troops are the foundation of Poland's security, which is why their modernisation is simply a precedence – said representatives of the MON during the gathering of the national defence subcommittee on defence manufacture and method modernization. Members listened to information, among others, about the equipment that has already been delivered to the units and what weapons will go to the soldiers next year.
Members of the Polish Defence manufacture Subcommittee and method modernization of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland listened on Thursday to the Ministry of National Defence's information on the degree of implementation of programs that modernise land troops. On behalf of the head of the Ministry of Defence, General Piotr Trytek, Inspector of the Land Command General of the Armed Forces, and Brig-Gen Artur Kuptel, Head of the Armed Forces Agency took the floor.
General Trytek He stressed that the ground troops are "the foundation of the safety of our state", and that their modernisation "in the face of rapidly changing geopolitical challenges" must be a priority. The inspector presented the process of modernization of land forces, broken down by different types of troops. He was the first to describe changes in armored and mechanized troops.
Military on caterpillars
– 116 M1A1 tanks were deployed to the armed forces from 2022 to 2024. Abrams and collected under the first executive agreement 84 K2 tanks. In addition, 76 Leopard 2A4 tanks were upgraded to Leopard 2PL. And another 52 machines are waiting to be upgraded. In turn, between 2025 and 2026, 250 M1A2 Abrams and 96 K2 Gap Filler tanks were planned to be deployed to the Armed Forces – General Trytek calculated.
The inspector noted that the Ministry of Defence had plans to conclude further implementing contracts for the supply of armored equipment. The General explained that this is due, among others, to the necessity of "refilling deficiencies caused by the subsidy of military equipment for Ukraine". It is besides about complementing, in the next stage, the "structures of recently formed tactical unions and military units".
MON intends to buy more than just another Primary tanks K2, but besides fresh floating fighting infantry wagons (which will replace outdated BWP-1) and dense fighting infantry wagons (the Polish army has never had specified a construction in the line).
Wheel formations
Another kind of military discussed was motorized troops. In their case, the Ministry of National Defence wrote out plans for the next decade.
– By 2037, it was planned to get wheeled armored transporters for the replacement of obsolete equipment and equipment for recently formed subdivisions. This will include 22 battalions motorized together with equipment designed for the Centre for Training of the Land Forces," General Trytek said. At the same time, he assured that the purchases of transporters were ongoing. – So far 2 executive contracts have been signed to supply 128 copies of the Rosomaks with a remote-controlled hose system. Supplies are scheduled for the period 2023–2027 and follow the agreed timetable. The first contract achieved 10 KTOs (of the 70 ordered), in July a contract for 58 units was signed, and On 17 December, a 3rd implementing agreement was signed, according to which between 2027 and 2028 the military will receive 80 copies of the long version of the Rosomaks, he explained.
Gen. Artur Kuptel, head of the Armed Forces Agency, declared that after the transportation of these Rosomaks a fresh model of KTO, which will wear the code name Serval, was to be contracted.
Weapons for the soldiers of the god of war
What about artillery?? As the gene emphasized. Triptek, for these troops there are respective programs that have already been implemented or their implementation is to a large degree advanced. – Modernisation of rocket and artillery systems, including the improvement and implementation of self-propelled crabs and K9 and rocket launchers lobster A and lobster K. He is another precedence for the ground troops," the officer emphasized. – In addition, independent mortar modules are obtained in this process Self-propelled CancerUnmanned modules Identification and impact systems Gladius and anti-tank missiles directed by Spike and Javelin – supplemented.
According to MON's calculations, 54 Homar K launchers (with 218 ordered), 136 self-propelled Haubic K9 (of 212 contracted), as well as 80 Crabs along with, among others, command-cars, ammunition trucks, and 120 automatic mortars of Cancer.
What's next with Badger?
Members of the subcommittee, after proceeding information from representatives of the Minister of Defence, asked first of all about modernisation programs waiting for implementation, i.e. the acquisition of a fresh fighting infantry car, dense BWP, a fresh KTO and another tranche of basic K2 tanks and their production in Poland.
For Badger and K2 Gen. Kuptel admitted that negotiations were very difficult, but expected to be completed soon. “If not by the end of December, at the beginning of next year,” he declared.
A small more complicated is the situation with dense combat infantry (CBWP) and Serval. It turns out that national manufacture does not want to make them on its own. – At the request of the Polish Armed Forces Group, alternatively of improvement work, there is to be a acquisition with adaptation, with the participation of a abroad partner – General Kuptel revealed.
Unfortunately, neither General Kuptel nor Gen. Trytek did not say erstwhile the applicable contracts might be signed, or who would be the abroad supplier of technology.
